News Releases

Saskatoon is experiencing the highest number of individuals facing homelessness ever recorded. The findings are revealed in the 2024 Point-in-Time (PiT) Count Community Report, officially released on Tuesday, May 27, pointing to a significant rise in homelessness across the city.

“Homelessness should be rare, brief and not repeated. These numbers are heartbreaking and unacceptable,” said Mayor Cynthia Block. “Every person without a home is a call to action — especially when so many are Indigenous, reflecting the ongoing impacts of colonialism. Cities are on the frontlines, but we cannot do this alone. We need urgent, coordinated action from all orders of government and we must work in true partnership with Indigenous leadership to create lasting solutions.”

As noted in preliminary findings from the City of Saskatoon and community partners, the 2024 PiT Count identified at least 1,499 individuals experiencing homelessness in Saskatoon – nearly triple the number recorded in 2022. With approximately five individuals per 1,000 residents experiencing homelessness, Saskatoon now faces one of the highest homelessness rates in Canada.

Alarmingly, the count also shows a dramatic rise in the number of children experiencing homelessness – 315 children were counted in the 2024 count compared to 26 children counted in 2022.

The community report highlights significant disparities. One of the most striking is the over-representation of Indigenous peoples who make up less than 12 per cent of Saskatoon’s general population but account for over 80 per cent of those experiencing homelessness. This underscores the ongoing impact of systemic inequities and barriers to accessing safe, affordable housing.

Evictions are the primary factor contributing to homelessness, as reported by over half of the survey respondents. Additionally, one-third of respondents identified insufficient income as another major factor contributing to homelessness. The data also point to a growing number of women, youth, seniors and families without stable housing, as well as a rise in unsheltered individuals sleeping in unsuitable conditions.

Additionally, mental health and addictions were the most frequently reported health-related challenges among respondents, with over 80 per cent reporting a substance abuse issue, and 60 per cent indicating a mental health issue. These responses underscore the complexity and challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness.

“The PiT Count helps us understand the extent of homelessness in Saskatoon. While the numbers are only a snapshot in time, the PiT Count doesn’t and can’t quantify the human suffering. The data can still help guide us in preparing as a community to address these challenges,” says Robert LaFontaine, SHIP Executive Director.

The count was conducted on October 8, 2024, through a collaborative effort led by the City of Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), and the Community-University Institute for Social Research (CUISR) at the University of Saskatchewan. Over 200 volunteers and numerous community organizations contributed to the initiative, which is part of the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home program—a national effort to better understand and address homelessness.

Using standardized national methodologies adapted to reflect local context, the PiT Count provides critical insights into demographics, service usage and the pathways that lead individuals into homelessness. These findings will help guide the development of culturally appropriate, evidence-based policies and programs, and long-term solutions.

While the PiT Count offers only a snapshot of homelessness over a 24-hour period, it remains a vital tool for identifying urgent needs, fostering collaboration and building public awareness.

The City of Saskatoon also thanks the Government of Canada for funding this project and for its continued critical role in this effort.

For additional information about the PiT Count, including the community report, visit saskatoon.ca/pit.

Central Avenue will be closed between 109th and 110th streets on Wednesday, May 28, starting at 9:00 a.m. for roadway patching. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take one day to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

PRESTON AVE S SB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED FROM CORNISH RD TO STONEBRIDGE COMMON
(Underground maintenance)
Start: May 27, 7:00 a.m. End: May 27, 10:00 a.m.

22ND ST W EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM CIRCLE DR W TO WITNEY AVE N
(Concrete repair)
Start: May 27, 7:00 a.m. End: May 27, 3:00 p.m.

11TH ST W EB LANES CLOSED FROM DAWES AVE TO AVE U S
(Environmental monitoring)
Start: May 27, 7:00 a.m. End: May 28, 5:00 p.m.

AVE P S ROAD CLOSED FROM 19TH ST W TO 20TH ST W
(Construction)
Start: May 27, 7:00 a.m. End: May 29, 5:00 p.m.

BROADWAY AVE ROAD CLOSED FROM 12TH ST E TO SASKATCHEWAN CRES E
(Link station construction)
Start: May 27, 7:00 a.m. End: June 2, 6:00 p.m.

MILLAR AVE SB LANES CLOSED FROM 58TH ST E TO 57TH ST E
(Roadway patching)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in NB lanes 
Start: May 27, 9:00 a.m. End: May 27, 3:00 p.m.

CLARENCE AVE S SB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED FROM BRAND RD TO COPE CRES
(Junction box replacement)
Start: May 27, 10:00 a.m. End: May 27, 2:00 p.m.

KERR RD WB LANES CLOSED FROM KENDERDINE RD TO GILLAM CRES
(Water main maintenance)
Start: May 27, 11:00 a.m. End: May 27, 2:00 p.m.

8TH ST E EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM ARLINGTON AVE TO CIRCLE DR E
(Underground maintenance)
Start: May 27, 12:00 p.m. End: May 27, 3:00 p.m.

TAYLOR ST E WB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED FROM BOYCHUK DR TO HERITAGE LANE
(Junction box replacement)
Start: May 27, 1:00 p.m. End: May 27, 4:00 p.m.

ONGOING

22ND ST W EB CURB & CENTRE LANES CLOSED FROM CIRCLE DR W TO WITNEY AVE N
(Concrete repair)
Start: May 26, 9:00 a.m. End: May 27, 7:00 a.m.

FAIRLIGHT DR WB LANES & EB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED AT FAIRMONT DR
(Paving)
Start: May 26, 8:00 a.m. End: May 27, 5:00 p.m.

3RD AVE S NB LANES CLOSED FROM TRAFFIC CIRCLE TO 19TH ST E
(Sewer main installation)
Start: May 20, 9:00 a.m. End: May 27, 5:00 p.m.

PRESTON AVE N NB LANES CLOSED FROM MAIN ST TO 14TH ST E
(Paving)
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: May 28, 5:00 p.m.

BALTZAN BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM MARLATTE CRES TO ORBAN WAY
(Road repairs)
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: May 28, 7:00 p.m.

WARMAN RD SB RAMP CLOSED AT CIRCLE DR E 
(Construction) 
Start: May 12, 7:00 a.m. End: June 1, 5:00 p.m.

22ND ST W EB LANES & WB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED FROM AVE I N TO AVE K N
(Water main maintenance)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in WB lanes
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: June 1, 6:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR W SB SPEED REDUCTION FROM GLENWOOD AVE TO 33RD ST W 
(Jersey barrier placement) 
Start: April 28, 7:00 a.m. End: June 2, 4:00 p.m.

BROADWAY AVE SB LANES CLOSED FROM SASKATCHEWAN CRES E TO 12TH ST E
(Link platform construction)
Start: May 20, 7:00 a.m. End: June 2, 4:30 p.m.

BOYCHUK DR SB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 8TH ST E TO BRIARWOOD RD
(Sidewalk construction)
Start: May 16, 8:00 a.m. End: June 6, 5:00 p.m.

CUMBERLAND AVE S SB LANES CLOSED FROM 5TH ST E TO TAYLOR ST E
(Sidewalk replacements)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in NB lanes
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: June 7, 5:00 p.m.

BROADWAY AVE SB CURB & CENTER LANES CLOSED FROM 8TH ST E TO 9TH ST E
(Link station construction)
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: June 8, 4:30 p.m.

MCORMOND DR SB LANES CLOSED FROM NELSON RD TO ATTRIDGE DR
(Link station construction)
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: June 8, 5:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E 
(Construction)
Start: November 20, 7:00 a.m. End: September 26, 2025, 5:00 p.m.

BROADWAY BRIDGE CLOSED FROM 12TH ST E TO 20TH ST E 
(Bridge rehabilitation) 
Start: May 11, 7:00 p.m. End: October (Date TBA)

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Broadway Avenue will be closed between 12th Street and Saskatchewan Crescent starting Tuesday, May 27, at 7:00 a.m. for Link station construction. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take six days to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

CUMBERLAND AVE S SB LANES CLOSED FROM MAIN ST TO 8TH ST E
(SL&P)
Start: May 26, 4:00 a.m. End: May 27, 5:00 p.m.

PRESTON AVE N NB LANES CLOSED FROM MAIN ST TO 14TH ST E
(Paving)
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: May 28, 5:00 p.m.

BALTZAN BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM MARLATTE CRES TO ORBAN WAY
(Road repairs)
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: May 28, 7:00 p.m.

22ND ST W EB LANES & WB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED FROM AVE I N TO AVE K N
(Water main maintenance)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in WB lanes
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: June 1, 6:00 p.m.

CUMBERLAND AVE S SB LANES CLOSED FROM 5TH ST E TO TAYLOR ST E
(Sidewalk replacements)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in NB lanes
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: June 7, 5:00 p.m.

BROADWAY AVE SB CURB & CENTER LANES CLOSED FROM 8TH ST E TO 9TH ST E
(Link station construction)
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: June 8, 4:30 p.m.

MCORMOND DR SB LANES CLOSED FROM NELSON RD TO ATTRIDGE DR
(Link station construction)
Start: May 26, 7:00 a.m. End: June 8, 5:00 p.m.

FAIRLIGHT DR WB LANES & EB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED AT FAIRMONT DR
(Catch basin repairs)
Start: May 26, 8:00 a.m. End: May 26, 5:00 p.m.

2ND AVE N NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 24TH ST E TO 25TH ST E
(SL&P)
Start: May 26, 9:00 a.m. End: May 26, 1:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR W MOBILE CLOSURE FROM 33RD ST W TO AIRPORT DR
(Median mowing)
Start: May 26, 9:00 a.m. End: May 26, 2:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR S SB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 11TH ST E TO IDYLWYLD PL
(Minor bridge repair)
Start: May 26, 9:00 a.m. End: May 26, 3:00 p.m.

22ND ST W EB CURB & CENTRE LANES CLOSED FROM CIRCLE DR W TO WITNEY AVE N
(Concrete repair)
Start: May 26, 9:00 a.m. End: May 27, 7:00 a.m.

ONGOING

IDYLWYLD DR S NB MEDIAN LANE CLOSED FROM 21ST ST E TO 22ND ST E
(Sewer main lining)
Start: May 25, 8:00 p.m. End: May 26, 2:00 a.m.

3RD AVE S NB LANES CLOSED FROM TRAFFIC CIRCLE TO 19TH ST E
(Sewer main installation)
Start: May 20, 9:00 a.m. End: May 27, 5:00 p.m.

WARMAN RD SB RAMP CLOSED AT CIRCLE DR E 
(Construction) 
Start: May 12, 7:00 a.m. End: June 1, 5:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR W SB SPEED REDUCTION FROM GLENWOOD AVE TO 33RD ST W 
(Jersey barrier placement) 
Start: April 28, 7:00 a.m. End: June 2, 4:00 p.m.

BROADWAY AVE SB LANES CLOSED FROM SASKATCHEWAN CRES E TO 12TH ST E
(Link platform construction)
Start: May 20, 7:00 a.m. End: June 2, 4:30 p.m.

BOYCHUK DR SB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 8TH ST E TO BRIARWOOD RD
(Sidewalk construction)
Start: May 16, 8:00 a.m. End: June 6, 5:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E 
(Construction)
Start: November 20, 7:00 a.m. End: September 26, 2025, 5:00 p.m.

BROADWAY BRIDGE CLOSED FROM 12TH ST E TO 20TH ST E 
(Bridge rehabilitation) 
Start: May 11, 7:00 p.m. End: October (Date TBA)

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.